Inseam-trimming machine



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

JAMES 0. PERKINS, OF AUBURN, YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 HAMEL SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATIONOF MASSACHUSETTS.

INSEAM-TRIMMING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

Application led July 20, 1918. Serial No. 245,833.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES O. PERKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inseam-Trimming Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to .machines intended to remove by a cutting operation surplus material encountered in the manufacture of shoes, and more specifically to a mechanism adapted for use in the making of welt shoes to remove the material proj ecting above the inseam.

Machines as at present constructed employ knives of various forms for performing the above operation, the knives most commonly employed being either of the band-saw type, or saucer-shaped rotating knives having serrated edges. Machines so constructed have been found to be open tc certain objectionable features in practical operation, due particularly to lack of rigidity in the cutter employed, which renders them uncertain in their action, whereby the cutting instrumentality at times fails to remove the desired amount of material, and at other times cuts so deeply as to sever the stitches in the sole, thereby damaging the shoe and rendering itunsalable. Moreover, in machines as at present constructed, the material removed by the cutting instru-V mentality usually is permitted to drop to the bench or floor in the immediate vicinity of the machine, thus detracting from 'the appearance of the work-room, and making very frequent cleaning of the same neces;- sary. In accordance with the present invention, the above difficulties have been largely overcome, the machine constructed in accordance with the present disclosure operating in a certain and efficient manner, while at the same time permitting the ready removal from the vicinity of the machine of all surplus material cut from the shoes.

The present invention comprises the employment of a cutting knife of cylindrical form supported for rotation in peripherally arranged bearings, and havingr one extremity of the cylindrical. cutter projecting from the bearings and provided with a sharpened edge which acts to remove the surplus material from the inseam.

The invention further consists in providing a ycutter `of the above ycharacter of substantially uniform diameter from end to end and having its interior portion entirely unobstructed, whereby cuttings or chips entering the same at one end maybe freely discharged at the other end.

The invention further resides in mounting a knife of the above character with its axis inclined downwardly and rearwardly from the cutting edge, whereby chips entering the central portion of the cutter tend, by gravity, to be discharged from the rear end thereof.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a suction tube which may be connected'with the ordinary .blower system employed in shoe factories, and having operative engagement with `the rear extremity of the cutting knife, thus providing a constant draft of air through the same to draw away the chips cut by the blade, and remove them from proximity to themachine.

The invention also comprises the provision of anti-friction bearings for said knife permitting the same to be. run at extremely high speed without heating or appreciable friction.

A further feature of the invention consists in furnishing a guard and adjustable guide members adjacent the cutting edge of the knife serving to protect the operators hand from the action of the same while at the same time guiding the shoe in proper relation to the knife blade.

Another feature consists in theemploy ment in connection with a knife of the above character of an -adjustable channel4 guide provided with f an anti-friction roll at its! extremity adaptedto run within the channel of the'shoe adjacent Vthe inseam.

The invention also contemplates the employment of a grinding ldevice which may.

' Other and further @biefs and advantages 1 of the mechanism disclosed will be herein* after described in detail,l and particularly.

pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings as showing a preferred embodiment thereof, and in whichf- Y Figure 1 is aside elevation of the machine, the upper portion thereof being in section,-

Fig. 2 is a partial front elevation to large scale and at right angles to the axis .of the cylindrical cutting blade,-

Fig, 3 is a plan view showing the cutting edge of the knife and the upper guide carrier:

Figlfis a partial front elevation to smalll scale illustrating the arrangement of the knife grinder mechanism.

1V is the base of thc machine upon the top ofwhich is mounted, as by means of bolts 2, a; bracket 3, carrying a head or frame 4, the head or lframe l being bored out longitudinally at 5 for the reception of the operative elements of the machine to be Yhereinafter described.

6 is a cutter holder or carrier in the form,

Y of a hollow sleeve provided near its central part with a ortion of greater diameter as indicated at g, thereby providing shoulders 8, 8a. The exterior surface of the cutter carrier at 9, 9a is screw threaded, that portion of the carrier which projects beyond the threaded portion 9 being split or slotted at one or more points as indicated at 10. Fixed to the carrier at its central enlarged yportion is a pulley 11, which may be grooved as shown at 12 for engagement with a driving belt of usual type. The head or frame 4 is slotted at its lower central portion upon each side, as illustrated, at 13, to provide for Ithe passage of the belt toward and from the pulley.

14, 14@ are a pair of washers spaced apart at a suitable distance to permit the location of the pulley 11 between them, said washersl having openings 15, 15n therein of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the `central portion of the carrier, these washers being held in fixed position in the frame or head by means of set screws or other suitable devices 16, 16a. 17, 17:L each indicate one yelement, of a ball race, such element beingvin the `form of a ring having a .central bore adapting the same to it snugly over the small portion of the cutter carrier, said ball races being held in lixed relation to the carrierby means of nuts 18, 1,8 having threaded engagement with the screw-threaded portions 9, 9a .of the carrier, and which nuts serve `to lio-ld said ball race members firmly against the shoulders ,8, .8a of the carrier. 19, 19a are the cooperating -members ofy the .ball race, the respective pairs of members serving to provide guide waysir the asiel manner ,for .Series .of

Vballs 20, 20a, the outer ball race members 19,

ternally of the ball race members 19, 19a,

and serving to retain the same in proper position in the frame or head, said washers being of an internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of nuts 18, 1S, and being lheld in fixed relation in the frame by means of set screws 22, 22a.

As will be noted from inspection of the drawings the bracket 3 iS S04 afrribllgd that the bore in the head or frame is positioned with its axis inclined downwardly from front to rear and thus the cutter carrier is similarly positioned.V 23 is a hollow cylindrical cutter of substantially uniform diameter from end to end, and having its rear extremity inserted within the split forward end of the cutter carrier. 2l is a manually adjustable nut engaging the outer'part of the screw-threaded portion 9 of the carrier, said nut being adapted upon proper manip-v ulation of the same to contract the split end portion of the carrier, thereby to firmly clamp the cutter in place therein. The outer extremity of the cutter is ground as at 25 to form a blade, the edge of which, as herein shown, is circular and continuous. It is not to be understood, however, that the invention is limited to the employmentV of a straight-edged blade, as is herein disclosed, as blades having` serrated edges might be substituted therefor, if desired.

27 is a bracket carried by the head and which may be integral therewith if desired, said bracket at its free extremity lying closely adjacent the end of the cutter member and being provided with aV guard 28 extending around the edge of the cutter niember throughout substantiall5fv a semi-circumference thereof, the exact extent of the gua-rd, however, being immaterial. The forward surface 29 of said guard is located slightly beyond the cutting edge of the' knife, thereby serving to prevent accidental injury to the operator. Y

30 is a slot formed in theouter edge of the guard providing a guideway wherein is adjustably supported as by means of a screw passing through a slot 3 2 in the same, a channel guide 38, said circumferentially beyond the extremity of the guard to a point slightlybelow the horizontal diameter of the cutter, the precise position, however, of the extremity of said guide being determ-inable at the will of the operator. 34 is a roll freely rotatable upon the extremity of said guide andlserving to lessen the friction of the shoe in moving over the same. 35 is a guide carrier pivotally mounted,'as by means of a screw 3.6, on the guard member .naar ,its @entrai Partien,

guide extending said guide carrier extending circumferentially along the edge of the blade, and having its free extremity opposed .to .the -extremityof the guide 33. As indicated in the drawings, the guide carrier 35 is of sub stantially thesame internal diameter as the cutter, but by reason of the mounting of the same at a substantial distance from the edge of the cutter, the free extremity of said carrier, whenin normal position, overlaps and lies across the edge of the blade, the extremity ofA said carrier at 37 forming a guide for engagement with the outer surface of the inseam. l

88 is a lip projecting downwardly from the outer surface of the guide carrier near its extremity and overlying the outer surface of the cutter, thereby serving to protect the welt from injury by the latter. 39 is a spring having one end fixed to the upper surface of the guard near its lower extremity as by means of a screw 40, and having its upper end formed for ready engagement with a pin 41 outstanding-from the surface of the guide carrier, said spring thus normally tending to move the free extremity `of the guide carrier toward the coperating extremity of the channel' guide. 42 is a boss projecting from the upper edge of the guide carrier, and having a screw-threaded opening 43 therein, in which is mounteda thumb screw 44, the end of which is adapted to engage againstthe outer edge of the guard member, thereby serving to adjustably limit the swinging movement of the guide carrier about its pivotal support, and

thus determining the degree of separation of the two guide members.

As shown herein, the rear extremity of the cutter holder orcarrier projects downwardly beyond the nut 18a and associated therewith is a suction pipe 72, said suction pipe being intended for connection with the usual suction blower system commonly employed in shoe factories for removing surplus cuttings and material from the machines there used. This pipe as shown comprises a collar 73 at its extremity closely surrounding the ex# tremity of the cutter holder` or carrier to provide a substantially air-tight connection between the two, this arrangement serving to provide for the production of a strong draft of air rearwardlythrough the center of the cutter and cutter carrier, whereby cuttings removed by the edge of the cutter are caused to flow rearwardly through the interior thereof and away from proximity to the machine.

Formed in the bracket 3 is a transverse bore 45 in which is ixedly supported a shaft 46 upon which are mounted for free rotation pair of idlerpulleys 47, 47a, the pulley 47 being retained upon the shaft by means of a collar 48, said idler pulleys 47, 47 a serving to direct the driving belt from a driving and not herein shown, pulley 11.

'yond said bracket and pulley supported in the base of the machine, to and from the drive As herein shown, the left hand extremity of the hub of pulley'47l1 is provided with a clutch element 49 adapted'for engagement with a coperating clutch element 50 formed upon the adjacent hub of a pulley 51 also loosely mounted upon the shaft 46. Interposed between said` pulleys 47 a and 51 is a spring 52 acting normally to separate the clutch elements. The shaft 46 projects beyond the pulley 51 and is supported by means of a bracket 53 outstanding from the bracket 3, 4the shaft projecting beserving to pivotally support a bracket arm 54 swingable thereon, but held in 'position by means of a fixed collar 55. Said bracket arm is bifurcated atits upper end 56 to provide spaced apart bearings 57, 57 a in which is mounted a shaft 58, said shaft being lretained within said bearings by means of fixed cellars 59, 59a.

Upon the free extremity of said shaft and outside the collar 59 areloosely mounted a pair of connected pulleys 60, 60a, sai'd'pulleys being retained upon the shaft by means of a fixed collar 61. Pivoted for free swinging movement uponthe shaft between the bearings 57, 57a is a ysecondary bracket 62, provided at its free extremity with spaced apart bearings 63, 68a, within which is rotatably mounted a shaft 64. Between said bearings is located a pulley fast to the shaft, and serving to retainthe shaft within its bearings. Upon the free extremity thereof, beyond the bearing 63 is fixed an abrasive wheel 66, said wheel being of anyV usual and well known construction. 67 is a belt passing around the pulleys 51 and 60, and 67a-is a belt passingabout the `pulleys 60a and 65.

The bracket arm 54 is normally held in rearward position by gravity, resting against a stop 68 carried by the frame, the secondary bracket 62 being provided with a stop 69 limiting thedownward pivotal movement of the same about its supporting shaft. 70 is a handle projecting from the bracket 62 .and permitting the operator by manual manipulation to draw the bracket arms forwardly from their normal position of rest tol a posi' tion in which the abrasive `wheel may engage the edge of the rotating cutter.. The operator will at the same time by manipulation of a suitable clutch handle 71 move the pulley 51 longitudinally of the shaft 46, whereby to engage the coperating clutch elements 49, 50, thus serving to rotate ythe pulley l51 and through the'belt connections to drive the abrasive wheel 66, thus acting to'grind the edge of the cutter to secure proper cutting action of the same.

In order to permit movement of the abrasive wheel into contact with the knife blade, it is necessaryV that the guide carrier be removed from the pathof such abrasive wheel, and the above described connectionv of the spring 39 thereto by means of the pin projecting `froin said guide carrier permits ready disengagement ofv the spring therefrom whereupon the guidercarrier may be thrown back out of the path ofsaid abrasive wheel. f

In the normal operation of the machine, it being assumed that the cutter has been vproperly ground to secure a sharp cutting edge, and that the channel guide has been adjusted in .accordance with the character of the work to be operated upon, the operator will insert the roller carried by the channel guide into the channel or against the inside of the lip of the insole, the inseam projecting into the space between the channel guide 33 and the outer, seam-guide 37, the latteilv resting against the. outer surface of the inseam, and aiding in supporting and guiding the same. As the cutting blade rotates it serves to remove. the. surplus material projecting above the seam by a-smooth andv uniform cutting action, and during such action the operator manipulates the shoe to traverse the inseam over the cutting edge, the chips or surplus material removed by the cutting action being drawn downwardly `into the interior ofthe cutter, and being discharged from the rear extremity thereof, itV

being noted that the interior of the cutter VVand of the cutter holder are free and clear from obstructions from end to end, thus per# mitting the chips to pass freely through the same. Due to the rigid character of the cutting blade the action of the same is certain, the depth of cutting'being 'dependent upon the relative positions of the two guidev members and being fully under control of the operator, the machine acting at the same time to remove all cuttings or chips from the near proximity of the machine, thus keeping vthe floor of the work roomV in neat condition.

While they above described structure is a preferred form of my device, it is not to be understood that the invention is to be limited to the specific details herein disclosed, but it is intended to cover all such changes and modifications as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention and a preferred embodiment of the same, together with the operation thereof, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is,-

l. In an inseam trimming machine, a frame, a cutter holder mounted for rotation therein and provided with cutter gripping means, and a hollow, cylindrical cutter mounted within said gripping 1neans,said cutter being open and unobstructed from end to end.

. 2.5111 a leather workingmachine, a hollow cylindrical member having one extremity sharpened to form a cutting edge, and having both extremities open and unobstructed, clamping means engagable with the outer surface of said member, and means for rotatably supporting and drivingsaid clamping means.

3. In a machine'for trimming inseams, a frame, a cutter holder mounted for rotation within said frame and having its axis inclined from front to rear, clamping means carried upon the forward vextremity of said holder, a hollow cylindrical cutter mounted therein, and means for rotating said holder.-

4. In an inseam trimming machine, in combination, a frame, bearing members'carried by said frame, a cylindrical open-ended cutter mounted for rotation in' said bearings and provided at one extremity with a cutting edge, and means associated with said cutter'for producing a draft of air through the same and rearwardly from the cutting edge.

5. In van inseam trimming machine, in combination,a frame, a cylindrical, openended cutter rotatable therein and having one extremity provided with a cutting edge, and a suction conduit having connection with the opposite extremity' of the said cutter and arranged to convey away theV chips formed in theoperation of the machine.

6. In an inseam Vtrimming machine, in combination, a hollow cylindrical memberV having one end sharpened to form a cutting 100 edge, a xed guard member adjacent to and extending along a portion of such edge, and an adjustable channel'guide kmounted upon said guard member. i

7. In an inseam trimming machine, in 105 combination, a hollow, cylindrical cutter providing an endless cutting edge, a fixed cutter guard adjacent said edge, and means carried by said guard and providing a guide for contact with the exterior edge of the in- 8. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a frame, a cylindrical, open# ended cutter rotatably supported therein, and having an endless. cutting edge, a bracket fixed to said frame, a guard member carried by said bracket and located adjacent said cutting' edgeY and extending circumferentially thereof, and an outside seam guide pivotally supported upon said member.

9. In combination, in an inseam trimming machine provided with a cylindrical, openended cutter having an endless cutting edge, a guard member adjacent said edge and extending circumferentially thereof, a guide 125 carrier provided with a seam guide pivoted adjacent one extremity of said Vguard and extending circumferentially along the cutting edge beyond said extremity, resilient means tending to swing said 'guide toward 130 Combination,

and across said edge, and adjustable stop means for limiting such swinging movement.V i

10. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a frame, a cylindrical cutter rotatable in said frame andhaving an endless jcutting edge, a guide carrier arranged to move toward and from said cutter and extending circumferentially of lsaid edge, resilient means normally tending to swing said carrier toward said cutter., said means being disengageablyv connected to said carrier.

11. In an inseam trimming machine, in a rotary cylindrical cutter member having an endless cutting edge, abrasive means movable toward and from said edge for grinding the same, a guide carrier normally positioned adjacent said edge and inthepath of movement of said abrasive means, and means for movably supporting said guide member to permit retraction of the same romthe path of the abrasive means. f V

12. In an inseam trimming machine, in combination, a hollow cylindrical openended member having formed upon one end thereof a euttingedge, a fixed guard member adjacent said edge and extending through# -out substantially a semi-circumferential segment thereof, a channel guide mounted ad'- jacent one end of said guard, an exterior, seamguide supported adjacent the opposite extremity of said guard, and means permitting relative adjustment of said guides.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. j y

JAMES v(IPERKINS. 

